Wash it Off: Bacteria Love Your Eye Makeup!

Eye makeup makes life so much easier and prettier. But if not used and removed properly, it can also be your eyes` worst enemy. Although eye makeup is bacteria-free when you buy it, it is very prone to infection by bacteria from the moment you open the package and expose it to air and germs. Because it’s applied to one of the body’s most sensitive areas, those germs can easily cause a big problems – like severe infections, pink eye or ulcers - for users who are not cautious.

To help you enjoy your eye makeup for the life of the product and avoid problems, follow these safety tips:

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Keep it clean. If your applicator falls in the sink or on the floor, throw it away immediately. Keep your makeup containers clean and dust-free.

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Don’t keep any eye make up longer than the expiration date. If you haven’t used a shade for four months, throw it away. Bacteria may have been breeding undisturbed.

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Toss out mascara that`s dry or more than three or four months old. Don`t add water or worse, spit, to moisten dry mascara.

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Wash your hands before putting on eye makeup. Your hands have lots of germs and bacteria that could get in your eyes.

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Don`t share eye makeup with anyone. You could easily get an infection.

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Don`t use testers at department stores. If you really want to see how a color looks, use a clean cotton swab – even that is disputed as to how sanitary it really is because many people have touched those open samples

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If you have an eye infection, don`t use any eye makeup until the infection is gone. Be sure to toss the makeup you were using when you got the infection. Chances are high that it`s contaminated with the same bacteria that caused your infection in the first place.

Knowing the shelf-life of you eye makeup is very important. If you don`t remember buying it, throw it away. If you notice (even a little) any of these signs, pitch that makeup immediately:

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The color has changed.

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It smells funny.

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The container is cracked or the cap no longer fits tightly, which means bacteria can get in and do damage.

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The consistency has changed. What was once thick is now runny, or liquids that are beginning to dry out.

Sleeping with eye makeup on can cause big problems too. If mascara flakes into your eyes while you sleep, you could wake up with itching, bloodshot eyes, infections or eye scratches. If any of your eye make up has even a trace of bacteria and you sleep with it on, you increase your chance of infection exponentially. Most of us inadvertently rub our eyes while we’re asleep or push our eyes into the pillow as we turn over. You could be forcing bacteria into your sensitive eyes and locking there for as long as you’re asleep. If your makeup smears onto your pillow it is still prone to gather infection causing bacteria and you could run that into your eyes every time you go sleep.

So be sure to gently remove all your makeup before going to bed using a facial cleanser, water and a soft washcloth. Or, if you prefer, using eye makeup remover and a clean cotton ball can also be effective. Either way, be sure to clean the corners of your eyes as well.

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